Homeland Security Challenged in Hearing on Bullet Buys

The Department of Homeland Security is being asked why it has 1,000 more bullets per person than the U.S. Army during a hearing held by House subcommittees on Thursday.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said that the Army uses about 350 rounds per soldier, while DHS goes through 1,300 to 1,600 rounds per officer, Fox News reported.

Chaffetz called the usage “inexplicable.”

Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., called the questions "conspiracy theories" and said they had no place in the committee room. But Republicans said their concerns were based on government waste.

Websites and circulated emails have claimed the bullet-buys were in preparation for civil unrest. Homeland Security has denied that, saying they were needed for training and for officers to have when doing their jobs.

“This is not about conspiracy theories, this is about good government," Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said during Thursday’s hearing.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., said he thinks the bullets are being stockpiled and then being disposed of, given to nonfederal agencies or simply shot "indiscriminately,” Fox reported.

The Department of Homeland Security is being asked why it has 1,000 more bullets per person than the U.S. Army during a hearing held by House subcommittees on Thursday.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said that the Army uses about 350 rounds per soldier, while DHS goes through...